News

After more than a year of construction, the Three Rivers Menards home-improvement store opens this week. Jeff Abbott, spokesman for the Wisconsin-based company, said the store will open at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Located off Broadway Road, just west of U.S. 131, the new Menards is in excess of 200,000 square feet. Abbott said per company policy, however, the exact size …

The Branch-St. Joseph Area Agency on Aging is unveiling its once-every-three-years survey seeking input from residents in Branch and St. Joseph counties, and local service providers and key leaders. Laura Sutter, agency coordinator, said the agency prepares a multi-year area plan, and input received from the survey helps spell out the needs and priorities of older adults, and targets funding …

More than a dozen people showed up Saturday at the inaugural foster care and adoption open house in Three Rivers. Spearheaded by the St. Joseph County Department of Human Services, the three-hour, drop-in event provided information about licensing requirements to become involved in foster care. Karie Saylor, representing the Centreville-based DHS of St. Joseph County, said she was pleased to …

Sturgis-based Michigan Agency with Choice has terminated its contract with Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services of St. Joseph County. The decision was made based primarily on the agency’s refusal to reinstate services for people with disabilities, according to John Carmichael, director of business development of GT Independence, the parent company of MAWC. Liz O’Dell, Community Mental Health executive …

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is warning local food establishments about a scam involving fake food inspectors making the rounds in the area. The tri-county health department has received reports from local restaurant owners that individuals claiming to be from a health department have contacted them and requested to schedule an inspection at the establishment. State and local food …

Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit on Tuesday executed a search warrant on a suspected methamphetamine production lab in the 100 block of East Chicago Road in White Pigeon. The warrant was the culmination of an ongoing investigation that began with an arrest for methamphetamine precursors earlier in the week, according to the sheriff’s department. On scene, …

Michigan State Police are investigating a residential break-in that took place while the owners were on vacation. A department media release stated the residence, located in the 21000 block of Hampton Road in Park Township, was burglarized between April 4 and 10. Guns and jewelry were the most significant items taken, the victims told police. Access was gained through forced …

A house in Constantine sustained heavy damage in a fire Thursday evening. Fire fighters from Constantine, White Pigeon, and Fabius Park fought the blaze at 570 South Washington Street. It appears the fire started in an upstairs bedroom. There were no injuries. Traffic on US-131 was rerouted for several hours while fire fighters were on scene.

The state’s business roundtable continues to forecast that Michigan’s economy will grow faster than the U.S. economy over the next six to eighteen months. The forecast by Business Leaders for Michigan is reinforced by 43 percent of its members planning to increase hiring in Michigan in just the next six months. According to the survey, 55% of business leaders believe …

Two units in an eight-unit Constantine apartment building were damaged by a fire earlier this week. Constantine firefighters were called around 5 p.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Peachtree Street, where the Custer Apartments were ablaze. Investigators said it appears the fire started in a lower unit and spread up and out from its origin. Though a half dozen …